Injury stocks high for Taranaki Bulls

Will Johnston

Photo: Taranaki's Pita Gus Sowakula starts for his team against Bay of Plenty on Sunday. LDV Photography

Taranaki Bulls coach Neil Barnes will test the province’s depth in the early stages of the national provincial championship.

After missing several key players ahead of the opening match at Pukekura Park last weekend, the injury toll has grown ahead of Sunday’s second-round fixture against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga.

Kini Naholo, Meihana Grindlay, Teihorangi Walden and Vereniki Tikoisolomone were omissions from the team meaning only a handful of players started compared to last year’s historic match at Pukekura Park.

Then before the agonising 13-11 loss, fullback Matty McKenzie withdraw because of injury.

It’s a contrast for Barnes after having little to no injuries during last year’s championship winning season.

“Last year we didn’t have any injuries in the backs, but a few in the forwards and managed to get through,” he said. “Right at the moment we’re under the pump in the backs big time.”

Barnes called in 17-capped former Samoan international and Spotswood United back Paul Perez last week and played his first match for Taranaki since 2009. He will earn a start this weekend on the wing. It’s a call up that Perez had been working on.

“I spoke to Paul a couple of months ago about we were a bit thin in depth in that area and if he was willing to put the work in, we would consider him. He’s put in a lot of work in the last two months.”

Then on Sunday, Daniel Waite (bicep), Daniel Rona (concussion), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (ankle) and Tom Florence (leg) all left the field. Florence's injury looked the more serious of the lot. They’re all waiting on clearances to play.

Barnes isn’t blaming the soft Pukekura Park surface for the injuries and claims it was just a bad run.

The recent injuries are on top of Stephen Perofeta and Tupou Vaa’i being away with the All Blacks but could be back after the South African tests.

“The All Blacks coaches will communicate with us then,” he said.

Naholo, Grindlay and Tikoisolomone should be available in the next few weeks.

There is some good news in the team ahead of Sunday. Second-five eighth Teihorangi Walden returns and Pita Gus-Sowakula makes a start.

Several players will make their debuts for Taranaki this weekend.

Former Bay of Plenty lock Stan van den Hoven gets a nod at lock.

New Zealand U20 and Stratford/Eltham halfback Adam Lennox, originally from Whanganui, has been bracketed at fullback or on the bench.

New Plymouth Old Boys loose forward Michael Loft will earn a cap if required after being named in the reserves. Loft has played for Taranaki’s sevens team and toiled away at club rugby for several seasons.

Spotswood United back Ethan Reti could also play his first match as he makes up the playing 23. Barnes said he looked comfortable in the pre-season matches in Te Awamutu.

Meanwhile, the Taranaki Whio will play Hawke’s Bay in Napier. Kickoff is at 2:05pm. 

Taranaki v Bay of Plenty, Sunday, 2:05pm.

Brayton Northcott-Hill/Adam Lennox, Paul Perez, Daniel Waite/Brayton Northcott-Hill, Teihorangi Walden, Josh Setu, Jayson Potroz, Logan Crowley, Pita Gus-Sowakula, Kaylum Boshier, Mitch Brown, Stan van den Hoven, Jesse Parete, Donald Brighouse, Bradley Slater, Jared Profit. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Mitch O’Neill, Kyle Stewart, Hemopo Cunningham, Michael Loft*, Liam Blyde, Josh Jacomb, Adam Lennox*/Ethan Reti*

(*debut)